December 5: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

December 5, 2022 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1936, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “LONDON (A.P.) — Chanting crowds, paced by blue-coated bobbies, roamed London today shouting themselves hoarse in praise of King Edward and in denunciation of an obdurate government. From Mayfair, the ultra, to Cheapside, the poverty-stricken, the winding processions tramped. In loud choruses they proclaimed their loyalty for the democratic ruler with a self-nominated leader springing up at intervals to ask: ‘Do we want Edward?’ ‘Yes!’ screamed his followers, jubilant in their acclamation. The query came again: ‘Do we want Baldwin (the Prime Minister)?’ ‘No-o-o-o-o!’ came the reply, long-drawn and sour. Sentiment throughout the city swelled as partisans chose their champions: King Edward, in love with American Mrs. Wallis Simpson, or Prime Minister Baldwin, head of a constitutional government determined to prevent the match. The demonstrations were noisy but orderly. The crowds obeyed commands from perspiring squads of helmeted police, rushed from one district to another to break up the jams. Before Buckingham Palace, in Trafalgar Square, through historic Haymarket to Piccadilly Circus, down Whitehall, anywhere the ruler’s supporters gathered the cry was always the same: ‘Edward is right! Baldwin is wrong!’”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1942, the Eagle reported, “President Newbold Morris of the City Council, members of the Consulate of Central and South American Republics and many state and other city officials will review a ‘Remember Pearl Harbor’ parade of 10,000 persons, starting at Schenectady Ave. and Empire Boulevard at 3 p.m. tomorrow. The theme of this demonstration as outlined by Charles E. Murphy, chairman of the Office of Civilian Defense in the 71st Precinct, is ‘Avenge Pearl Harbor with bonds and stamps.’ All civilian defense organizations, including air raid wardens, city patrol corps members, auxiliary firemen, nurses’ aides, parent-teacher aides and block captains will participate. Members of the American Legion, Jewish and Catholic War Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, servicemen, wounded war heroes, teachers, church and apartment house groups and members of school societies and political clubs will also participate.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1947, the Eagle reported, “Mounting protests over Assistant Superintendent of Schools Isaac Bildersee’s ban on ‘religious’ Christmas celebrations in 23 borough schools under his supervision continued today. Meantime, Mayor William O’Dwyer had arranged to meet Monday with Andrew G. Clauson Jr., president of the Board of Education, at City Hall ‘to look into the matter.’ ‘All I know at this time,’ the mayor said, ‘is what I read in the Brooklyn Eagle. If this is true, it is a matter that should be attended to at once — very firmly, and I emphasized that to Mr. Clauson.’ The civic and moral affairs commission of the Brooklyn Division, Protestant Council, vigorously condemned Bildersee’s action in prohibiting the singing of Christmas carols relating to the Nativity and forbidding all Christmas holiday celebrations having ‘religious significance’ in his two school districts, 41 and 42 … Bildersee’s edict was brought to the commission’s attention at its regular meeting yesterday by the Rev. Dr. J. Henry Carpenter, executive of the Brooklyn Church and Memorial Federation … ‘We do not believe,’ said Dr. Carpenter, ‘that the idea of separation of Church and State excludes the recognition of holidays of any of the faiths. Our country was founded on the basic principles of Christianity which resulted from the Judeo-Christian heritage. We feel that those principles must be enhanced and developed and made a part of the very life of the pupils and that they should be a part of the very life of the pupils’ educational experience.’”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1951, the Eagle reported, “MANILA (U.P.) — Rescuers fought heat, fumes and blinding dust today to reach an estimated 2,000 persons killed or trapped under volcanic ash and lava from two eruptions of volcanic Mt. Hibok-Hibok on Camiguin Island. Red Cross officials said 157 bodies have been recovered. Governor Paciencio Ysalina of Misamis Occidental Province estimated 2,000 persons had been killed and said ‘80 percent of Barrio (town) was wiped out.’ However, Red Cross officials described the governor’s figures as ‘too staggering.’ Raymond Spencer, American Broadcasting Company correspondent, reported in a broadcast that at least 2,000 persons were buried alive. Spencer said rescue workers could hear voices of hundreds screaming and pleading for help. He added that an estimated 10,000 people in the vicinity of the volcanic mountain were endangered. A fleet of vessels stood by in case evacuation of the island’s 60,000 inhabitants was ordered.”

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Margaret Cho
Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include humorist Calvin Trillin, who was born in 1935; operatic tenor Jose Carreras, who was born in 1946; two-time Super Bowl champion Jim Plunkett, who was born in 1947; Pro Football Hall of Famer Art Monk, who was born in 1957; Great White singer Jack Russell, who was born in 1960; rapper and radio personality Doctor Dre, who was born in 1963; Goo Goo Dolls singer John Rzeznik, who was born in 1965; actress and comedian Margaret Cho, who was born in 1968; former N.Y. Mets outfielder Cliff Floyd, who was born in 1972; sprinter and Olympic gold medalist Brian Lewis, who was born in 1974; “Precious” star Paula Patton, who was born in 1975; “Angel” star Amy Acker, who was born in 1976; former N.Y. Knicks center Eddy Curry, who was born in 1982; “Malcolm in the Middle” star Frankie Muniz, who was born in 1985; former National League MVP Christian Yelich, who was born in 1991; and “American Idol” winner Maddie Poppe, who was born in 1997.

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MOVIE MAGIC: Walt Disney was born on this day in 1901. The innovative animator, filmmaker, producer, studio head and theme park developer received a record 22 Academy Awards in competitive categories as well as three honorary Oscars and the Irving Thalberg Award. Films such as “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Pinocchio,” “Fantasia,” “Dumbo” and “Bambi” still captivate audiences today. Disney died in 1966.

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STANDING UP: The Montgomery bus boycott began on this day in 1955. On Dec. 1, Rosa Parks was arrested in Montgomery, Ala., for refusing to give up her seat to a white man. To support Parks and protest the arrest, the city’s black community organized a boycott of the bus system. It lasted until Dec. 20, 1956, when a U.S. Supreme Court ruling was implemented in Montgomery integrating the public transportation system.

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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.

Quotable:

“I would rather entertain and hope that people learned something than educate people and hope they were entertained.”

— filmmaker Walt Disney, who was born on this day in 1901